Recommended Diet For GERD Patients

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GERD or Acid Reflux symptoms are most of the time aggravated by the kind of diet that we implement. Try some of these recommended diets for GERD that could prevent your recurring symptoms from happening.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Acid Reflux

If you're suffering from acidity problems and are desperate for a remedy, then know the healing powers of apple cider vinegar. Acid reflux can be cured completely, with this natural treatment.

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The curing abilities of apple cider vinegar has been deciphered during the time of Babylonia and Hippocrates. It is seen that raw apple cider vinegar is made up of forty different types of substances including vitamins, minerals, various enzymes and good bacteria. While buying, look for 'mother' of vinegar which is the milky and cloudy substance present at the bottom of the bottle, as it has the potential to cure many diseases. Excessive consumption of meat, sugar and grains can increase acidity in the internal system. Using treatment with apple cider vinegar, acid reflux can be cured to a great extent.

Acid Reflux Diets

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is not technically a disease at all. Acid reflux is a condition brought on by poor eating habits. Not only eating the wrong foods, not chewing food properly is also a root cause of acid reflux.

What you eat can overcome acid reflux. If you get acid reflux during the night then the cause could very well be eating too much at dinner. Eating a large meal may cause the stomach to produce too much acid. Try eating smaller, more frequent meals during the day. A smaller amount of food puts less workload on the stomach therefore requiring less acid secretion needed for digestion.

New Procedure For Acid Reflux/GERD

Boston Medical Center (BMC) surgeons are now offering patients an incisionless alternative to laparoscopic and traditional surgery for treatment of acid reflux or GERD.

Using the new procedure known as EsophyX TIF (Transoral Incisionless Fundaplication), surgeons can repair or reconstruct the valve between the esophagus and stomach, effectively stopping GERD. BMC is the only hospital in New England offering this new treatment

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Stomach Acid Reflux Foods To Avoid And Eat

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Stomach upsets caused by acid reflux are more often due to the foods that we eat. Here are some reference on what foods you should avoid and eat for your acid reflux disease.


Heartburn-Easing Foods That Fight GERD

Are you a smart snacker?

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), how you eat is almost as important as what you eat. That means slow it down, no late-night snacks, and don't hit the hay right after meals. But choosing food wisely is also key.

You can curb your GERD by opting for a low-fat, high-fiber diet that's heavy on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean meats. Listen to your body, and use this chart from the National Heartburn Alliance to select the best GERD-soothing foods.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Diet

A diet designed to prevent or reduce acid reflux is usually easy to follow. The basic food groups of cereals, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and meats can be eaten with only a few limitations. So, this diet generally meets the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) of the National Research Council. A vitamin C supplement may be needed if an individual does not tolerate citrus foods such as orange, tomato, etc.


Knowing What Food to Eat And Avoid For Acid Reflux Disease

Of all the reasons for acid reflux problem, terrible eating habits contribute the most.

Hence, the first point to remember in the treatment of acid reflux is the knowledge of foods to eat and foods to avoid. Acid reflux may require you to make a new meal plot for yourself, giving more places to healthy and nutritious food and say goodbye to some other.

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GERD Drugs May Cause Unexpected Side Effects

People who are taking drugs called proton pump inhibitors to treat GERD (gastroesophageal reflux) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) should be aware of possible unexpected side effects and complications, according to a new report published in Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. These additional adverse effects are in addition to the ones normally associated with use of proton pump inhibitors, which include headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dry mouth, constipation, nausea, rash, and flatulence.

Experts do not know exactly how many people have GERD or LPR, as some people do not seek treatment from a physician for their symptoms. It is estimated that 20 percent of people experience heartburn or acid regurgitation on a weekly basis and that 40 percent of people experience these symptoms at least once a month. The American Gastroenterological Association suggests that one-third of the US population has GERD.

Proton pump inhibitors, which work by preventing the release of stomach acid, are a popular treatment for GERD and LPR, and they are generally regarded to be safe. Recent research has indicated that stomach acid is not the only factor that causes tissue damage in reflux disease, however, and this fact, along with indications that proton pump inhibitors are associated with unexpected complications, prompted the authors of the new research to raise a red flag about use of these medications.

Some of the unexpected side effects and complications the authors noted related to the use of proton pump inhibitors for GERD include an increased rate of hip fractures (which may be related to problems with calcium absorption), the possibility of altered absorption of iron and vitamin B12 (related to changes in gastric pH levels), an increased risk of developing diarrhea caused by clostridium difficile related to medical treatment, and an increased risk of contracting community-acquired pneumonia. In an unrelated recent study, use of proton pump inhibitors was found to cause weight gain.

Given their findings, the authors of the study suggest that physicians reevaluate their patients who are taking proton pump inhibitors for GERD or LPR to determine whether they need to continue taking these drugs and to weigh the risks of treatment versus not treating the disease. Current proton pump inhibitors on the market include dexlansoprazole (Kapidex), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (Aciphex).

Physicians are also encouraged to consider alternative treatment approaches for GERD, including changes in diet and lifestyle. Some modifications that can be helpful include avoiding certain foods (e.g., fatty and/or fried foods, spicy foods, soft drinks, tomatoes, chewing gum, coffee, alcohol), stopping smoking, eating smaller meals, and practicing relaxation techniques.

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7 Most Common Gastrointestinal Problems

There's something about digestive difficulties that makes them hard to discuss in polite company -- which leaves many of us suffering one problem or another in silence. Yet fixes can be as simple as making informed lifestyle changes or taking over-the-counter remedies. Peppermint oil and soluble fiber, for example, can help people with irritable bowel syndrome; a study the British Medical Journal published in November concludes that both should be first-line therapies for IBS. Here's a rundown of the latest medical wisdom on some other common gastrointestinal problems.

REFLUX

Symptoms of reflux, such as heartburn, are among the most common digestive ills. In a recent Swedish study, 6 percent of people reported experiencing reflux symptoms daily and 14 percent had them at least weekly. Such frequent symptoms may indicate a person has GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Aside from being painful, GERD can harm the esophagus over time or even lead to esophageal cancer.

Heartburn typically involves a "hot or burning feeling rising up from the center of the abdomen area and into the chest under the breastbone or sternum," says Dr. Michael Gold, director of gastroenterology at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. "It may be accompanied by a sour taste in the mouth, or hypersalivation, or even finding food or fluid in your mouth," particularly at night.

Pregnancy, some medications, and consuming alcohol or certain foods can cause heartburn. Kids under age 12 and some adults may have GERD without heartburn, instead experiencing asthmalike symptoms, trouble swallowing, or a dry cough.

Treatment options include drugs that reduce acid levels, such as the proton pump inhibitors Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix and the H2 blockers Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet, and Zantac. But taking medication is not without risk. A November, 2008 study found that a proton pump inhibitor may weaken the heart-protective effect of the blood thinner Plavix in patients taking both medications.

In severe cases of GERD, surgeons can tighten a loose muscle between the stomach and esophagus to inhibit the upward flow of acid. Recently, laparoscopic surgery, which involves small incisions, was found to lessen scarring and shorten recovery time compared with open procedures.

PEPTIC ULCERS

If you have unexplained stomach pain, consider this before reaching for a painkiller: "The worst thing to do if ulcers are suspected is to take aspirin or other NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) pain reducers," Gold says. "They worsen it and don't help."

Instead, if you think you have a peptic ulcer, consider getting tested for Helicobacter pylori, experts advise. By disrupting a protective layer of mucus, that bacterium causes ulcers, which are sores in the lining of the stomach or first stretch of the small intestine.

Other causes include smoking, which can elevate stomach acidity, and excessive NSAID use. Alcohol use may also be a factor, but it's unclear whether that alone can cause ulcers. (The old theory blaming factors like stress isn't totally wrong: Stress can aggravate symptoms of peptic ulcers and delay healing.)

Left untreated, ulcers can cause internal bleeding and may eat a hole in the small intestine or stomach wall, which can lead to serious infection. Ulcer scar tissue can also block the digestive tract. And long-term H. pylori infection has been linked to an increased risk of gastric cancer.

Ten to 14 days of antibiotic treatment, often combined with acid reduction therapy, can rid someone of H. pylori. Surgery is an option for more severe cases. A study published in the World Journal of Surgery concluded that laparoscopic repair should be considered for all patients with so-called perforated ulcers.

Read the full article from The Baltimore Sun

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Fruit and Vegetable Diet - Acid Reflux Disease Diet No. 2

If you are thinking that there are so much food to avoid for your acid reflux, well think again. You could have a variety of acid reflux diets, not just sticking to a single diet for the rest of your life. This Acid Reflux Disease Diet No. 2 is the Fruit and Vegetable Diet. Sounds yummy to me! Not only will it aid in the symptoms of acid reflux but this diet is now gaining its popularity in terms of weight loss.

Before munching those juicy fruits and leafy vegetables, remember that not all of them are included in our list. Stay away from the forbidden fruits to avoid the attack of acid reflux symptoms. Fruits to avoid include: Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, cranberries, prunes, raisins, raspberries and tomatoes. These fruits are known to be acid forming. Choose fruits that are alkaline forming such as apples, bananas, mangoes, kiwi and melons. For the veggies, almost all are for yours to grab except for onions. Try to cut down the onions if you include them in your salad.

Fruit and Vegetable Diet for acid reflux does not mean you just have to eat those plants and colorful fruits for the whole diet. Also, it does not mean that meat should be excluded from what you eat, because protein and nutrients found in meat is needed for our complete daily nutrition. Equally true, however, is that we need other vitamins and nutrients from fruits and vegetables in order for everything to work properly. Establishing a fruit and vegetable diet simply means to eat at least of 2-3 servings of fruits and 4-5 servings of vegetables each day.

Here is a sample diet plan:

Breakfast:
Apple juice
Whole grain cereal
Banana
Whole-wheat toast
Margarine

Lunch:
Lettuce
Fresh fruit salad (no citrus fruits)
Vegetable soup
Saltine crackers
Lean beef patty
Hamburger bun


Snack:
Vegetable salad
Graham crackers

Dinner
Broiled skinless chicken breast
Brown rice
Steamed broccoli
Green salad
Apple

Acid reflux diet has never been hard. There is always a variety of diet to choose from. So grab those fruits and veggies now and enjoy. See you at the next Acid reflux disease diet plan, just subscribe to this blog to be updated.

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Obesity Greatly Contributes To Severe Heartburn

Obesity contributes to many health problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. However, one condition -- gastroesophageal reflux disease -- stands out in its ties to obesity, say the authors of a new study. In the largest and most scientifically rigorous study to date, researchers at the University of Southern California were able to calculate that the effect of obesity on GERD is 13%.

"Everyone knows that blood pressure and cholesterol levels are related to obesity, but the strength of the relationship with GERD is every bit as strong or perhaps even stronger," the authors of the study, Dr. Shahin Ayazi and Dr. Peter Crookes, told The Times. The study is published in this month's issue of the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.

As obesity rates have risen in the United States, so has GERD. One study suggested that GERD incidence increased 5% annually between 1992 and 2005. Almost 1 in 5 people have the disease. The volume and fat content of diet is linked to esophageal acid exposure as is high-calorie diets. The same dietary habits promote both obesity and GERD, the authors say.

The study was conducted by examining almost 2,000 patients with GERD over 10 years. Researchers measured the amount of acid in the esophagus and used a probe to check the strength of the valve in the lower esophagus that normally protects against acid reflux. They were able to relate those measurements to the height and weight of their patients.

The bad news about the study is that losing weight won't necessarily help with GERD unless someone is in the early stages of GERD and has mild reflux.

"Heavier people have more reflux, and they have more damage to the lower esophageal sphincter," the authors said. "If you don't have a good sphincter, then you are likely to get worse reflux ... The sphincter is a muscle and in most parts of the body, when the muscle is damaged, it does not return."

Of course, there are treatments for GERD. But the strongest message from this study is one for obesity prevention.

-- Shari Roan

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How To Manage Your Heartburn

Here's an article that I've got from Carolyn's Corner. Great tips for managing symptoms of acid reflux like heartburn. Also discussed are some foods for acid reflux.

"Persistent, potentially life-altering heartburn may be a symptom of gastro-esophageal reflux disease known as GERD. Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD and may cause chest discomfort and an acid taste in the mouth.

Sometimes it can make you feel like you have a lump in your throat or like you always have to clear your throat. It can also cause a sore throat-you may feel it more when you first get up in the morning. It can cause you to have trouble swallowing or a dry cough.

What Causes Heartburn, or GERD?

Sometimes the foods we eat can contribute to heartburn. For instance, eating fat causes our stomach to produce my acid, increasing the likelihood of heartburn. Also, some foods, like those containing caffeine or peppermint are known to relax the muscles in our throats, also increasing the likelihood for heartburn.

The good news is, you may be able to control your heartburn symptoms by choosing a healthy diet and following some of the guidelines below.

Lifestyle Guidelines for Management of Heartburn-

• Try not to bend over or lie down for 15 to 30 minutes after eating.

• If necessary, elevate your head during sleeping.

• Wear clothes that are looser around the midriff; if necessary loosen your belt after meals.

• Quit smoking, or using tobacco products.

• Take positive steps to minimize stress.

• Eat smaller meals, but more often.

Eating Guidelines for Management of Heartburn-

• For drinks, choose those that are decaffeinated like herbal teas, water and juice. Avoid alcoholic and carbonated drinks . Decaf coffee should also be limited.

• If you want soup, try clear broth soups low in fat. Limit or avoid full fat cream soups, and/or tomato-based soups.

• For fruits and their juices, choose low- acid fruits, like apple, grape, cranberry, banana, etc. Limit or avoid citrus (orange, grapefruit and pineapple), or tomatoes.

• For dessert, choose low-fat options like gelatin, popsicles, frozen low-fat yogurt, cookies and cakes. Read the nutrition information on the food label and select desserts with less than 3g of fat per serving. Try to eat less chocolate and desserts with more icing, whipped cream or other forms of fat.

• For veggies, eat steamed , or stir-fried (with little oil). Try to avoid fried and creamed veggies.

• For milk and dairy products stick to skim or 1% milk products. Limit whole milk or 2% milk.

When choosing grains, choose those made with low-fat ingredients. Eat less grains with whole milk or other high fat ingredients.

When choosing your proteins, choose low-fat cuts of meat. Chicken with the skin on and meat with visible fat should also be limited. Trim off excess fat from meat and skin from poultry before cooking. When cooking meat, fish or poultry, try baking, broiling, poaching or roasting.

Eat less high fat proteins like sausage, bacon, fried meat and/or chicken, salami, bologna, etc. Instead of cooking with oils, butter and/or margarine, use a nonfat cooking spray. Remember fat icreases heartburn.

Other foods to limit are spicy foods, fatty foods and those with peppermint.

If your symptoms persist and are severe, see a registered dietitian and/or other health professionals for treatment and medical advice. If you have frequent and persistent heartburn, you may have GERD, leading to an inflamed esophagus. GERD usually requires prescription-strength medication or medical treatment and sometimes surgery."


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5 Lifestyle Changes That Can Prevent Acid Reflux Disease

Do you often experience painful symptoms of acid reflux disease? You might take comfort knowing that making acid reflux diet changes as well as other lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the occurrence of acid reflux symptoms. Below are 5 suggested lifestyle changes that would complement your acid reflux diet in relieving acid reflux symptoms:

1. Quit Smoking - Research have said that nicotine relaxes the esophageal sphincter thus allowing acid reflux from the stomach to the esophagus to occur. Tobacco also increases the amount of acid secreted by your stomach and interfere with the function of muscles that help keep acid down. There are a lot of reasons not to smoke and one reason is that it can definitely worsen symptoms of acid reflux disease.

2. Be Stress Free - In other words, relax! When a person is exposed to a stressful situation, such as fight with the spouse, problem at work, financial problem or other intense emotional condition, the body goes into what is called "fight or flight" response. This response then causes certain body functions to increase in operation in order to aid to body for defense. And when the body is exposed to a long-term stress, the body direct more oxygen to vital organs such as the heart, lungs and large muscle groups. During this period the stomach is forced to function on less oxygen which then results in sluggishness that leads to poor digestion. In this case, food is allowed to sit in the stomach for a longer period of time thus stomach acid builds up and is allowed to travel out of the stomach and up into the esophagus. End result is an increase in acid reflux symptoms. So better stop worrying now.

3. Lessen The Pressure - Most of the time, extra pressure around your abdomen increases acid reflux. Avoid wearing belts or clothes that are tight fitting around the waist. Clothing that fits tightly around the abdomen can squeeze up the stomach, forcing food up against the LES, and cause food to reflux into the esophagus.

4. Watch You Weight - According to some research and statistics, approximately 35% of overweight persons experience symptoms of acid reflux. Obesity can cause abdominal pressure. Because of this, stomach content is easily pushed up in the esophagus. A reasonable weight should always be maintained.

5. Sleeping Posture - First is not to lie down for about two hours after you eat. This could help backing up in the esophagus stomach juices. During your bedtime, elevate your head about 4-6 inches. This helps keep your stomach's content down thus avoiding symptoms of acid reflux during your sleep.


Based from your experience, what other lifestyle changes have you made that have eased out symptoms of acid reflux? Please leave your comment and don't forget to subscribe to acid reflux disease diet so that you will be updated.

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Doctors Test Device To Stop Severe Heartburn

There are six times more cancers of the esophagus reported today than there were 20 years ago, and acid reflux is often to blame.

Minnesota doctors are working hard to put a lid on severe heartburn, which is responsible for one of the fastest-growing cancers in our country.

Food is supposed to be our friend, but for some, it becomes the enemy.

"Anything and everything I ate, it just came right back up my esophagus," said Debbie Dearborn. "It would burn in my throat."

Dearborn was among the 20 million Americans struggling with acid reflux bad enough to require daily medication. She endured a nightly struggle as well.

"I lost a lot of sleep over the years," Dearborn said. "I mean, a lot of sleep, because I would have to sleep partially sitting up at night time."

Dr. Bob Ganz, the chief of Minnesota Gastroenterology's Esophageal Center, said Dearborn has GERD, or Gastroesphogeal Reflux Disease. The muscles at the top of her stomach were not tight enough to keep the contents in.

Severe heartburn becomes the least of one's worries when you see the damage stomach acids do over time to the lining of the esophagus, which is a condition called Barret's esophagus.

Esophageal cancer is deadly. Roughly six out of seven victims die within five years of diagnosis.

Recently, doctors have been able to reduce the cancer risk by removing the dangerous tissue with heat. While this restores a healthier esophagus, the faulty valve is still a threat.

Twin Cities surgeon Dr. Dan Dunn is one of the doctors evaluating a way to fix the problem permanently. The solution is called the Torax Linx, which is a small bracelet of magnetic beads placed around the lower esophageal sphincter, just above the stomach.

"This is meant to be a more physiologic way to mimic your own sphincter," Dunn said.

Done laparoscopically, the procedure to implant the device is minimally-invasive and takes less than an hour. Patients go home the next day and are urged to eat nearly anything they want.

Ganz said unraveling why a patient has reflux can be a complicated process, because it could involve everything from diet to lifestyle to physiology. The new technology can measure the muscles responsible for every swallow a person takes and allows doctors to do a topographic pressure analysis.

Ganz said pressure on the stomach itself increases with excess abdominal fat, and adds that the incidence of GERD has soared right along with the rising epidemic of obesity.

"When you eat more on a daily basis, your stomach starts to stretch out a little bit," Ganz said. "The area where the esophagus meets the stomach starts to stretch out."

Dearborn was accepted into the Torax Linx clinical trial and less than a month after her surgery, she feels like a new person.

"I'm perfectly new again," she said. "I'm just, I'm really impressed. I'm really happy I had this surgery done, very very happy."

Source

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Bland Diet - Acid Reflux Disease Diet No. 1

Here is the first among the series of acid reflux diet posts where you could chose a diet for acid reflux disease that could fit your own personal preference and lifestyle.

Bland diet or sometimes called the soft diet provides foods that are not irritating to the digestive tract and do not increase acid production in the stomach. This is a diet designed not only for acid reflux disease but also for other gastrointestinal problems like peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, hiatal hernia and dyspepsia.

The bland diet consists of food that are easily digestible, mildly seasoned and tender. Fried foods, highly seasoned foods and most raw and gas-forming fruits and vegetables are to be avoided. Bland diet should be a CAP-free diet. CAP stands for caffeine, alcohol, and pepper as these can easily irritate the stomach and can cause hyper acidity.

Here is a Diet Sample Menu

BREAKFAST:

• Banana
• Potato-egg omelet
  
• Whole wheat bread
• Apple Juice

LUNCH

• Strained cream soup made with allowed vegetables
• Soybean curd (tofu)
• Lean meat
• Rice
• Bland dessert or fruit

SUPPER

• Pasta
• Fruit Juice
  
• Ice cream for dessert

Snacks that you could choose from:

• Salad with mild salad dressings such as mayonnaise
• Cookies
• Ice cream sherbet
• Noodles
• Avocado and banana
• English muffin

Bland diet could vary due to individual food intolerance. Also keep in mind that bland diet alone will not cure symptoms of acid reflux disease, but it could help to ease acid reflux disease symptoms. Remember still to always consult your physician.

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Did I Already Mentioned I Have Acid Reflux Disease?

It was year 2001 when I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux Disease. One prescribed medication that I have taken was ranitidine, a histamine-2 blocker. Don't ask me what a histamine-2 blocker is, all I know is that it works by reducing the amount of acid that the stomach produces. And for the past several years, I have been looking for a perfect acid reflux disease diet plan that could work best for me to supplement my medication. Not all types of acid reflux diet could fit for us as an individual. What works for me may not suit you. So we should have a specific plan for ourselves that we could easily adapt. But I will be putting on a variety of acid reflux diet posts that you could choose from.

As any other objective, everything should be started with a plan. Here's a video that I would like to share about acid reflux diet plan.


Acid Reflux Diet Plan -- powered by eHow.com

How about you what acid reflux diet plan have you started?

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7 Acid Reflux Disease Dieting Tips

Here are some simple yet effective ways that could help you getting started to control acid reflux disease through diet. You may be aware of the many possible medications that could help you relieve your acid reflux symptoms, but sometimes we feel that some triggering factors are due the foods that we eat. The following are 7 acid reflux disease dieting tips that you can consider. This will not only aid in preventing and soothing the symptoms of acid reflux disease, but can also aid in improving your overall health.

1. Avoid Acidic Foods

This one is pretty obvious as to the name of our disease, acid reflux. No acid, no reflux. These include citrus fruits, tomatoes, tomato-based sauces, gooseberries, unripe fruit, vinegar and pickles or relishes.

2. Stop Eating Large Meals

A big meal causes a rise in the production of acid in the stomach and also distends the stomach. What we could do instead is to have a small frequent meal. Four to Six small meals or snacks will do and allow a maximum of 3 hours interval before the next meal.

3. Say Goodbye to Alcohol

Too bad if you’ll be going to a party. But if you are going to suffer with the symptoms after afterwards, might as well say no. Besides, alcohol is also a source of non-nutritious calories that can contribute to overweight condition.

4. Carbonated drinks is also a no

Popping out your favorite carbonated soft drink will also do no good as carbonated drinks can lead to extra strain in abdominal muscles and increase the risk experiencing acid reflux symptoms. Carbonated soft drinks cause upward pressure and belching on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) increasing the likelihood of heartburn.

5. Lots of water

Now here is the best drink! Water can help cleansing up the lower esophageal sphincter so it closes up tighter, not allowing gases and acid to leak up into your esophagus that can cause pain.

6. Cut Down on fatty foods

Fatty foods especially those that are being fried can cause indigestion and should be avoided or eaten sparingly. So take it easy on butter, sausages, salami, meat pies and full-fat cheese.

7. Chew you food

Why should you be in such a hurry? Go and savor what you eat. Not only would you enjoy what you eat but this would also aid in your digestion.


Start with these acid reflux disease dieting tips and begin to see a happy stomach.

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Do You Have Acid Reflux Disease?

Before taking up the acid reflux disease diet, the first thing to know is if you really have an acid reflux disease. What symptoms do you have? Have you already consulted your physician about it? So what really is acid reflux disease?

Acid Reflux which is scientifically know as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter or LES which is the muscle connecting the esophagus with the stomach. Gastroesophageal refers to the stomach and esophagus and reflux means to return or flow back. Therefore, gastroesophageal reflux is the return of the stomach's contents back up into the esophagus.

The cause of acid reflux disease is complex. There probably are multiple causes. A small number patients with acid reflux produce abnormally large amount of acids. Factors that contribute to acid reflux disease are the lower esophageal sphincter, hiatal hernias, obesity, esophageal contractions, and emptying of the stomach.

Symptoms of the acid reflux disease are the following:

• Heartburn
• Regurgitation
• Nausea
• Trouble Swallowing (dysphagia)
• Excessive salivation (body’s natural response to heartburn, acting similarly to an antacid
• Chest sensations or pain
• Chronic sore throat
• Persistent hiccups

Are you experiencing the following symptoms? And if you suspect that you do have an acid reflux disease what do you do next? What diet for acid reflux disease should you take? Please wait for my succeeding posts to know the details. Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog to be updated.

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